Belleville, Ontario, December 4, 2014 – Loyalist College was pleased to present certificates to nine graduates of the Elevate training program at a ceremony in Quinte West on December 4.
“Congratulations on this achievement,” said Loyalist College President and CEO Maureen Piercy to graduates. “In just six weeks you have developed the skills to keep up with technologically advanced work in the food and beverage processing industry, the largest manufacturing employer in the province. Loyalist is proud to offer this important new training program in conjunction with our industry partners, to help meet the demand for technically skilled workers seeking long-term employment.”
Graduates were also addressed by Lesley Brown of Essential Skills Ontario and Chuck O’Malley of Loyalist Training and Knowledge Centre (LTKC). June Hagerman, a member of the Loyalist College Board of Governors, and Elevate Program Coordinator Neil Dick were also on hand to present certificates to graduates.
Elevate is a joint partnership with Essential Skills Ontario and the Food Processing HR Council, designed to support vulnerable individuals who are unemployed or receive income support. The program, which combines literacy and essential skills with job-specific training for the food processing industry, is delivered at no cost to students through LTKC. Essential Skills Ontario is evaluating whether direct involvement of employers in the design and delivery of workforce training for low-skilled adults helps to sustain longer-term employment.
The program began on October 27 in Quinte West Ontario Provincial Police’s Cox Building. Six weeks of training included a 10-day placement with a partnering local manufacturer. Students completed placements with either Vantage Foods of Belleville or Canadian Blast Freezers of Quinte West. For graduate Matthew Lange, that placement led directly to a job.
“Next week I’ll be starting a new job at CB Freezers with the skills I have learned” said Matthew. “The course instructor’s knowledge and experience in the industry made Neil the best teacher. He not only taught us the current rules and regulations of the industry, but he was able to relate his many years of experience to this course. He really took an interest in each of us and cared that we succeed.”
LTKC is currently accepting applications to the Elevate training program for start dates in January and March 2015. The program is open to applicants with or without a high school diploma, as well as those who may have credentials from another country.
![elevategrads-Dec2014](https://loyalistcollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/elevategrads-Dec2014-500x307.jpg)
Back row, left to right: Graduates Matt Lange, Ira Saylor, Travis Lange, Tara Kotry, Steve Culhane and Tristan da Silva; Facilitator Sandra Norman; Facilitator Sal Polletta. Front row: Graduates Don Price, Larry Mayhew and Ian Rines; Facilitators Neil Dick and Francine Short.
![elevate-Dec2014](https://loyalistcollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/elevate-Dec2014-500x332.jpg)
Lesley Brown, Executive Director of Essential Skills Ontario (left) with Loyalist College President and CEO Maureen Piercy.
About Essential Skills Ontario
Essential Skills Ontario (ESO) works to ensure that all low-skilled, low-income working age adults have the skills, credentials and supports necessary for success in the labour market by creating effective solutions that align our education and workforce training interventions to the demands of today’s economy. By identifying labour market trends, conducting focused research and implementing demonstration projects to guide policy and program design in Ontario, ESO works to find results for those who need it most. For more information, please visit www.essentialskillsontario.ca.
About Loyalist College
Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, Loyalist College is a close-knit community where students and their success come first. Internationally renowned for its enriched student learning and living experiences, Loyalist provides personalized attention in small classes, rewarding field placements and superior success services. To prepare students for in-demand careers, Loyalist offers 65 full-time programs; apprenticeships; and more than 500 online, distance and in-class courses, as well as opportunities for continuing education through more than 70 university transfer agreements. The College’s wide selection of advanced diplomas, diplomas and certificates aligns with market-driven disciplines including applied sciences, biosciences, building sciences, business and management studies, health sciences, human studies, justice studies, media, arts and design, and skills and technology. In Ontario, the College’s new Digital Media Centre and the LEED® Silver certified Sustainable Skills, Technology and Life Sciences Centre are training centres of choice for students, as well as College business and industry partners. For more information on the College’s Belleville and Bancroft campuses, visit loyalistcollege.com.
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Contact: Amber Haas, Senior Communications and Marketing Lead,
Essential Skills Ontario, amber@essentialskillsontario.ca, 416-963-5787 ext. 29
Kerry Lorimer, Director, Marketing and Communications,
Loyalist College, klorimer@loyalistc.on.ca, 613-969-1913 ext. 2536